1851 Seated Liberty Dollars : Original - High Date

No Motto

What this coin looks like (obverse, reverse, mint mark location, special features, etc.):One major variety of the 1851 Seated Liberty Silver Dollar is the Original Strike version. Very few of these coins were produced because the value of silver was unfavorable for the mint at a value of $1.03 for each $1.00 coin. As a result - The US Mint greatly reduced production to only 1300 coins and kept most of them from going into circulation. Collectors then realized how rare this date was going to be. Some years later (numismatists believe 1858) - A restrike version was produced for collectors who wanted the scarce date. Only between 30-40 of these Restrike versions are estimated to exist.

The original strike has a date oriented higher up near the base of the liberty portrait on the obverse of the coins. The numbers in the 1851 date also slope downwards from left to right. The Restrike version has a centered date positioned slightly lower from the liberty portrait and the numbers line up in a straight centered line. The difference between the 1851 Original Strike vs Restrike Seated Liberty Silver Dollar is depicted below in the example comparison image (Source of example images is courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries):